> Nothin' but Button > by TheGandyMan > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- > Chapter 1: Reunitation is Totally a Word > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Stereo Mic liked to consider himself a rational pony. Heck he’d even say he was one of the most rational ponies, especially for a Pegasus. He did not get himself into dangerous situations, he avoided problematic situations as best he could, and to top it off he was fairly good at talking ponies to a point of reasonableness. All and all, Stereo Mic was a rational pony. So why was he here, on a train to Fillydelphia, covered in sweat and apple juice? At first glance, explaining this might seem like it would be a bit complicated, but you could actually do so with a single word, or rather, a name. Button Mash. …okay fine, two words... two names. Next to the charcoal grey Pegasus, sat a brown earth pony. He goes by the name Button Mash, likely because that is his name. His signature propeller hat currently sat on the seat beside him. Both pony and hat were as soaked as Mic as was, however that did little to alleviate the pegasus’ anger. The moments passed by in silence as they sat there but was eventually broken by Button’s voice. “We should be getting to town in about twenty or so minutes.” More silence. “Sweetie Belle will likely be waiting for us at the station.” … “…you think they have a wet towel? My flank is sticking to the sea-” “What kind of idiot offers orange juice to the APPLE FAMILY!?” Mic finally exploded. He glared at Button in a combination if anger and confusion. Button held up his hooves defensively. “Oh come on, it was funny!” “Don’t give me that, you knew what you were doing.” “Offering oranges so I could make a joke about Applejack's coat?” Button offered with another shrug. “You don’t ju- wait… THAT’S why you did that?” Button rolled his eyes and crossed his hooves, “Well why did you think I did it?” “I don’t know. Attention maybe?” Mic was suddenly feeling a little doubtful in his accusations. Button rolled his eyes. “Just existing gets me enough of that. Not that I'm complaining mind you." He crossed his forelegs, cringing a bit at the movement as it made the stickiness more prominent, "Besides it didn't go that badly." Mic facehoofed, "Button, I don't know about you, but I personally do NOT enjoy getting chased halfway across an orchard after falling into an apple vat. I didn't even do anything!" "Shh!" A voice shushed them from the door to their cabin. The passing conductor gave them a glare as he disappeared behind the door frame. There was an awkward moment of silence before Button spoke up again, seemingly unfazed by the interruption. "Look bro, we hadn't seen each other in what... years? You were the only friend I had before you had to leave for Cloudsdale. I wanted our reunitation to be a bit more exciting. Angering a mare is bound to be just that. Tartarus hath no fury after all." There was another moment of silence as Mic squinted, "Button, reunitation is not a word." "Yeah it is. I just said it didn't I?" "No, you just made it up." "All words are made up." "That- Ugh!" With a defeated groan, Mic stood up from his seat, and went and out the door, "I'm gonna go get cleaned up. They must have a shower somewhere on this thing." Button got up as well and followed behind. "Yay, shower buddies! Let's go." Mic rolled his eyes and thought to himself, what have I gotten myself into? It was a good question, what had he gotten himself into and how? To answer that question, one would have to go back a bit. THREE YEARS AGO "Mom, I'm fine with the Cloudsdale college, really." "No! No you are not. I've seen the way you are at school." Mic's mother the bright pink unicorn insisted, the locks of her crimson mane following her head as she shook it, "You have no friends, you rarely leave the house, and when you are at school, you look bored out of your mind." Her name was Perfect Swirl and the way she did her hair could easily attest to that. "That's... wait, how would you know?" Mic pointed an accusatory hoof, "Have you been infiltrating my school!?" "No, dear, of course not. Don't be silly." Mic breathed a sigh of relief. "I hired a few of your classmates to report back to me at the end of the month." Mic's eyes shot open, "What!? Who?" "See , if you had been talking to more of your classmates, you would know who it was." Crossing her forehooves she groaned in annoyance, it was a lady-like groan of course, "Despite how much you hate going to that school, you get straight A's, so I know you're not having academic issues. Quite the opposite." Pulling up a small magazine, she plopped on the counter, "You've been looking at other schools for a while now." At first Mic tried to sputter out an excuse until he eventually hung his head down in defeat, "Okay, fine. Yes I do want to go somewhere else. The material they go over here in Cloudsdale isn't really... my thing." "Just say they're sports nuts Sterry." Swirl said with a roll of her eyes. "I'm just trying to be polite." "No, you're avoiding the subject." Swirl sighed and stepped around the corner. Using a hoof to bring his head up to look at her, "Honey, why are you insisting on staying here when I know you want to go to another school?" Mic didn't respond for a little while, but his resolve on the matter eventually broke. "I... I just don't want to leave you on your own again. When Dad died, it was my job to take care of you. That's why I left Ponyville in the first place." Now it made a bit more sense to the mare as she chuckled a little. "Ohh, honey. I'm okay here. I can take care of myself you know." "Bu-" "You call me old and I will swat you." She booped his snoot, "The point I'm getting at though is that you shouldn't hold yourself back when there are things you want and know you can achieve." The two of them hugged for a moment, finally getting their feelings out. It felt good to finally admit he wanted to go somewhere, he'd been looking towards Fillydelphia as it turns out. When the hug finally broke, Swirl looked her son in the eye and said, "Oh, by the Sterry, speaking of schools, I got a call from one of your old friends in Ponyville. Looks like he's looking for a roommate." "Oh? Who is it?" > Chapter 2: Smells Nice > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Once the two ponies had made their way back to their cabin, Button pulled out a familiar little gaming console while Mic stretched to take a rest on the seat. Suddenly however, a question arose in Mics head. Turning to look at Button more comfortably he got the colts attention, "Button, what are you going to college for? I know it's a random question, but like... I don't know many of your interests. As far as I know, you just enjoy games, movies, and other geeky stuff." Button paused whatever game he was playing and set the device down on the seat before leaning back, his forehooves behind his head, "Gee thanks, but to answer your question, I'm going to college to major in game design and coding. Also, I'm minoring team management in a few art programs." Mic was a bit taken back and it must have shown on his face cause Button chuckled and leaned forward. "What? Did you think I was going there just for fun? I mean, yeah, I am going there for fun, but it's more like I'm going there to learn how to make a career out of something I have fun doing. One bird with two stones and all that." "It's two birds with one stone, but anyways I expected something along the lines of 'my mom wanted me to' or somethin'. Glad to see you've actually got a plan." Button rolled his eyes and groaned, "Tell me about it. You remember Snips and Snails?" Mic nodded, "Well those two are still living at home and haven't really done anything to change that. Like, seriously?!" Button suddenly stood up and opened the window, showing the greenery as it whizzed by, "There's so much adventure out there! So many things you could try out." Mic tilted his head, "That has got to be most ironic thing coming from you, Button. You did nothing but sit in your room all day." Mic pointed an accusatory hoof, "I distinctly remember you once turning down that cute filly just so you could sit in line for a console you wanted." "Hey! I waited over two years for that console to come out. I wasn't about to just let it slip through my hooves like butter!" Button defended. "You let a filly slip out of your hooves." Mic shot back. Button grinned in response "Did I?" A moment of silence passed before Mic sat up on his haunches, "No way! You have a marefriend? Since when? Who is it? Anyone I should know? Is she going to the same college? How did you me-" Button raised a leg to stop Mic's questions, "In order. Yes I did. Two years now. It's Sweetie Belle, so yes you know her, and yeah we are going to the same college so you'll get to see her soon." He waited a second before clarifying, "She's not living with us. I have an apartment close to the School, but she's in the dorms." Mic nodded, "How exactly did the two of you get together? You barely glanced her way back when I was in Ponyville" "Well..." SIX YEARS AGO A brown earth pony wearing a beanie cap sat with his back to a tree and his face glued to a beeping device in front of him. He looked to be in his early teens. The little green fan on his beanie spun slightly, despite the lack of wind as his tongue lolled out of his mouth in concentration. Button Mash was his name and adorned on his flank was a cutie mark of a pixelated controller with a single joystick. Button did not notice the marshmallow filly who had snuck her way in front of him. This of course was Sweetie Belle, a unicorn filly who sat in his class, though he had yet to pay any attention to her during those times. Button was not of course paying attention to her. His mind was too fixated on defeating Dr. Ponotnik. The Green Islands would not save themselves after all. Much clicking and beeping occurred for a while until finally the words game over displayed in front of Button. Button swung his head back in frustration, forgetting about the tree he was leaning against, bonking his noggin. He grabbed the back of his head in pain, but soon after felt a hoof that was distinctly not his own in the same place. Looking up, his eyes still a little blurry with water. He noticed the pink and purple coloration. Blurred or not, Button recognize who it was immediately. "Sweetie?" He said at first, making absolutely sure it was who he assumed it was. "Yeah, it's me! Are you okay, Button?" Her melodic voice filled Buttons ears, and almost completely relieved of his pain. The important word being 'almost'. "Ahh, I'll be fine. Happens more often than you'd think." With one last rub, Button sat a bit straighter and looked at Sweetie. She was much older, which made sense. Ponies tended to do that as years passed. Her mane was done up in about the same style she had always worn it, although he noticed something about it. "Did you put fruits in your mane?" Button asked. "...what?" "You smell different than you used to. I just thought..." he trailed off. "Hold on, you remember what I smelled like as a filly?" Sweetie asked, a little disgusted before twisting to inquisitiveness, "What... exactly did I used to smell like." Button crossed his forehooves and gave a proud smile, "Chocolate pudding. I know what everypony smells like." Sweetie eyed him suspiciously, "Prove it." Button returned her gaze with a challenging one, "Try me." "Apple Bloom." "Sawdust and vanilla." "Scootaloo." "Roasted chicken." "Cheerilee! Wait how do you know what roasted chicken smells like?" "Trees with a hint of frustration." Button ignored the question. "Fancy Pants?" "Ripped jeans." Sweetie lifted an eyebrow, "So he smells like denim?" Button shook his head with a roll of his eyes. "Fresh denim and denim that's been torn with rebellion are two completely different things. Also, would you like to go on a date? Next one." "Sure thing, and my next will be... wait." Sweetie's eyes went wide, "Did you just..." "HA!!" Button jumped up from his seated position and started doing a little jig, "You already said yes, no take backs. We're going on a date." Sweetie stared at the colt for a second before facehoofing. Button finished his story with a smile, "And that's how it went. One thing led to another as they say." Mic looked at Button for a moment. The time ticked by as he stared at his dark coated pal. Button did not seem to mind and just stared back, waiting for Mic to respond. When the Pegasus finally did, Button was ready. "Big Mac." "Whipped Cream, believe or not." "Berry Punch?!" "A slightly singed Cheerilee." "Ah! The Elements of Harmony!" Mic stared at with a smile. There was no way the colt knew what all of them... "Pinkie's like rubber, Twilight's like hot sauce, Rarity's like a fruit basket with perfume, Applejack smells like apples (shocker I know), Fluttershy's like sterilized chaos, and Rainbow's like water." Button yawned casually with a grin, "Was that supposed to be a challenge? Come on bro." Mic glared at Button for a moment before going into thought. Some time passed before he smiled. He leaned back and crossed his legs, "The entire Royal Guard." What Mic did not expect was for Buttons grin to suddenly become sinister. A grin that meant death was imminent. Each sparkle of those pearly whites glittered and shined, lighting up new ways for one to experience pain. Mic was all too late to realize the horrible mistake he had made. Button took in a long breath... > Chapter 3: Pie for your Thoughts? > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- A very haggard male pegasus was making his out of the train station in Fillydelphia. At a glance, he just seemed tired, but upon further inspection, it was obvious he had just been through what one would call "the ringer." Beside hum walked a brown earth pony, who's spirits directly contrasted that of his friend. His smile was contagious, his gate was perky, and his a golden aura of happiness seemed to practically emanate from his very being. "I'm glad we're finally here. I haven't see Sweetie since I left." He stopped and gasped, "You don't think she's forgotten me, do you?" Though tired and practically spent, Mic still answered, "I don't think she's forgotten you Button." "But what if she has? I'll have to redo everything I've ever done with her, including the pie thing." Mic raised an eyebrow but never got the chance to ask what that meant as a white blur practically attacked Button. It may have been a cat, though Mic was not completely sure. Do cats not like the color brown or something? Mic turned his head with this question in mind but quickly quelled the though when he realized who it was. Button had managed not to completely fall over, but was locked in an embrace with Sweetie at this point as she planted little kisses all over his face. Mic smiled at the couple, they looked very happy together. As the two of them broke apart finally, Button motioned a hoof to Mic, "Sweetie, you remember Mic, right?" Sweetie's face lit up. "Stereo Mic? I haven't seen you since... well forever. How have you been?" "I've been fine. Not much to report on that honestly... at least not right now." Mic nodded to Sweetie, "What about you though? I've heard enough stories about the Equestrian Belle to know you've been busy." This elicited a faint blush from Sweetie. "Haha, I guess it can't be helped can it?" Sweetie whipped her head, allowing her mane to whish in a grandiose way, "After all, they say I sound like an angel." Button shook his head with a mock look of sadness, "That's what fame will do to ya. She's full of herself now." "Oh, Phooie, you're just jealous." "BUTTON!" Button and Sweetie turned to look at Mic. He was holding one of the brief cases in his hooves and was looking into it with a horrified expression. Button tilted his head. "What?" "Did you pack food into my suitcase!?" "Ohh... yeah there wasn't room in mine." "Why did you bring food at all! They had food on the train!" "Emergency rations." "We're not in the army, Button." Button shrugged, "But we could be. It never hurts to be prepared." Sweetie gave a nod of approval as he shrugged, "Besides, what's the big deal. if you're clothes got dirty, we can just wash them." "My admission papers are ruined!" Mic pulled what looked like a Picasso painting made of frosting. If one squinted, they could possibly be conceived as documents with text. Sweetie cringed a bit, "Oh... okay yeah that's actually pretty bad." she gave the papers - although calling them papers would be extremely generous at this point - a confused look, "Why is it all mashed up like that though?" "He put his bag on top of mine." Mic threw the papers into a nearby trashcan before groaning in frustration, "Well there's not much I can do now. Without those papers, I probably won't get the classes I want." Button tilted his head again, "Why not?" "You have to make a small essay and fill in the questions so they can set you up good times. It includes the ponies that you plan on associating with if you know anybody from the school. Helps to set up schedules so friends can stick together. Pretty sure Celestia herself had that changed." He raised an eyebrow, "How do you not already know this Button? What did you do." "I just walked in and told them what I wanted. Didn't even know there were admission papers." Sweetie and Mic stared at Button for a moment in disbelief. He stared back with a blank look on his face. The silence was finally broken by a groan from the Pegasus. Sweetie giggled and planted a quick on Button's cheek. "Never change, Mashie." Mic lifted his face from it's home in his hooves, "Mashie? Really?" Sweetie blushed a little and huffed. "Well it's certainly better than calling him Butt or something." Button did his best not to laugh and failed. Sweetie turned a deeper shade pink before turning around and quickly leaving the station, "Oh, p-pipe down. Let's just show Mic around already." Mic shook his head, his red mane cascading a little, "I would love to, but I need to go to the school office and sign in. We took the early train so I could sign in as soon as possible." Sweetie stopped and turned around rigidly, "Well... you better start flying then, cause it closes in ten minutes." "Oh sh-" Mic blasted through the doors of one of the many offices in the building. Panting, he collapsed on the floor, his wings twitching. In front of him stood a tall desk. No, the desk was not tall, Mic was on the floor. Perspective. Just above the desktop he could see the tip of a green horn and mane. All other details were hidden. Forcing himself to a standing position, Mic could see the pony in front was probably the greenest pony he had ever met before. His coat was green, his mane and tail were green. Though he could not see it, Mic hoped his cutie mark was anything BUT green. The green pony stood up. It must have been a green cutie mark because there was nothing visible, "Greetings, my name is Scarlet Or Something. Nice to meet you. Can I interest you in one of our patented cherry flavored mints?" His... or wait... her voice? Mic really couldn't tell. Normally he would not care, but this pony was so stuck in the middle of looking like a male and a female that it was suddenly at the forefront of Mic's mind. A minute passed before he finally gave up. "Uhm... sorry. No thank you. Uhh... is this the school office?" "This is an office at the school." "Oh." "..." "Wait... but we're not on the school grou-" "Just kidding!" Scarlet gave a wide toothy grin and sat back down, "What do you need?" Mic took a moment to recover before sitting down at the seat available. He looked around the office. It was... the definition of boring. It looked exactly like how a office should look like, which was strangely annoying. Even the family photos looked like they were there just because they had to be. Scarlet's smile did nothing to help. "My uhh... my admission papers got messed up... by something." Mic chose to refrain from mentioning the cause, "I was told I could just say what needed to be said? Or do I have a chance to retake the admissio-" "Impossible!" Scarlet's voice was extremely cheerful for no explainable reason and the smile had remained, "But I am willing to help you fill out the paperwork within the next... twenty-seven seconds." Scarlet used some magic to flip out a small stack of papers and began writing and blindingly quick speeds. "Twent-?!" "Name?" "Uhh... Stereo Mic, but-" "Residence?" "I'm er... lodging with Button Mash... is that oka-" "What do you want to be?" Mic stopped for a moment. Silence reigned in the room at the very simple question. What did Mic want to do? In fact, what kind of question was this? Was Scarlet asking what Mic wanted or what he was supposed to want. Deciding he didn't have enough time to think of an appropriate answer, he let the words pour from his mouth. "I... want to make music. I want... I want to hear ponies walking down the street humming to songs that I've made and that kinda thing. I guess you could say-." "Done." Mic jumped a bit from the sudden word. Scarlet was smiling at him, but the smile seemed less for show. A more genuine smile. The stack of papers had tons of writing on them but they were swept up quickly and put into a file. "Thank you, Mr. Mic for coming to the school. I assume you already know where the school grounds are?" Mic nodded hesitantly, "If you get lost, ask anyone around. They will help you out." Mic nodded and smiled, his eyes darting over to where his new papers had disappeared to. He got up and began walking out. "Oh! One more thing." Mic turned back to Scarlet's voice, "tell Button that Scarlet's back in the office." Mic nodded and exited the building. > Chapter 4: Apartment Sweet Apartm- oh jeez what is that smell? > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- "TADA! Welcome to your new home bud. I know it's a bit messy but..." What lay before Stereo Mic was probably the most obscene thing he had ever seen before. Clothing scattered across the floor. The rug, or what he could see of it at least, looked as if the concept of a vacuum had been lost in a distant memory, much less any sort of disinfectant. The photos on the walls looked lopsided almost on purpose, their entire goal just to piss someone off. "Button... 'bit messy' is a phrase you have no right to use at this moment, what in the name of tarter-" "Language." "Why are there so many pizza boxes?! You realize that recycling is a thing, right?" Button scoffed, "Of course I do. Where do you think the Pizza Box Couch came from?" He motioned over to the living space where, sure enough, a couch completely built from old pizza boxes was sitting, "Patents are still pending at the moment." Mic had a hoof over his nose at this point. A few spots in the building smelled of he did not want to know what, "Button, this is not healthy! Forget a clean up crew, this place needs to be bombed." "Hey! I resent that. I clean this place regularly every month." Button proceeded to take a drink from a soda can he had found and then tossed it over his shoulder into the sink. After doing this, a slight bit of realization appeared on his face as he looked over his shoulder, "Okay, maybe I do have a problem." "See what I mean?! Ugh, I don't even want to know what your guest room looks like." The room went eerily silent as Button did not respond. This did not boad well, "Button... what happened to your guest room?" Button shrugged and looked everywhere but at Mic's eyes, "Well ya see... heheh. In the guest bedroom I had-" "HAD?!" "...I kinda used to use it as a den." "This whole apartment is a den, Button!" He looked into Button's eyes, worried, pleadingly looking for a semblance of hope, "Please tell me you haven't subjected a singular room to the same enterprise of uncleanliness!" "Stop using big words that I'll have to look up later!" "Button!" "Fine! Just take a look for yourself!" He pointed to a doorway on the far side of the room. In a huff, Mic went over to the door and opened it. Button had never seen a grown stallion cry before. Nor had he ever beheld one send such a terrifying torrent of tears during a rage induced lecture. However he could also surmise that Stereo had never once encountered a calamity as uncalming and frankly disgusting as what had been perceived in the guest room. As the earth pony glanced over to his friend, who was now on the floor, his bloodshot eyes still open, he wondered if maybe he should mentioned how that particular spot had been stained. ... Nah, what he doesn't know won't hurt him. > Chapter 5: Gettin' Buggy > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Would you eat a bug?" Mic lifted his head and turned to look at Button, who was currently lounging on his pizza couch. Mic, who had been diligently working on his assignments, gave Button a flabbergasted look. "...you wanna run that one by me again?" "Would you eat a bug?" Button asked a second time, craning his neck a bit so he could look at Mic who still seemed a bit shocked by the question. "What in Tirek's white beard kind of a question is that?" Button sat up on the couch and looked at Mic, "No no. I'm serious. Let's say you were in the middle of the desert, right?" "Why would I be in a desert?" "Because your Latmarian Uncle died and you're inheriting his goods." "But Latmaria isn't a desert, and even if it was, couldn't I just hire a carriage to take me there?" Button waved a hoof dismissively, "Carriage crashed. Drivers dead." "Okay morbid, but go on." Mic added flatly. "So, you're in the desert. You have less than a weeks worth of water, but you have no food. The nearest residence is a week and a half away as the crow flies." Mic decided not to point out that the stallion could have just said pegasus, "You stumble across an anthill. Would you eat the ants for sustenance?" Mic grimaced a bit at the thought, "Well, that would depend, are there any cacti nearby?" ...silence. "Button?" "What is a cacti?" Mic looked at Button with disbelief, "Cacti, Button." Button shrugged and shook his head blankly, "Cactus?" Another shake, "Cactoid? Peyonte?! Prickly Pear!?!" Button shrugged again. With a groan of frustration, Mic took a piece of paper and drew a small poorly made cactus and handed it to Button who looked at and suddenly recognition flashed across his face. "Oh, an opuntia. Okay yeah, there's a few of those nearby. Why do you ask?" Mic sighed in defeat and moved on, "Well if one of those is nearby, there are many safe ways to both get milk and food from a cactus." "Ahh, so no ant eating then?" "No ant eating." Mic proceeded to get back to his work. He had a history assignment he had to get done before he could go back to his room, which was finally cleaned now, although it had taken a month to do so. There was a music artist he wanted to listen to, some Gryphon from- "Would you eat a pony?" "Button, what the bu-" > Chapter 6: Untitled > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Stereo Mic awoke with a start. A sound had brought him from his deepest of slumbers. His eyes looked around frantically for the offending noise. Soon enough, his eyes landed to the left of his bed where a blob of white stood. Mic rubbed his eyes and looked again. Looking again, he could see that there was a goose in his room. Yes, a goose. It opened its yellow bill and let out another round of noise. HONK! Mic winced at the loud noise and looked around, "Button!" Silence responded, "Button, not sure if I'm actually awake right now but there's a goose in my room! Do you know anything about this?!" HONK! Mic huffed when nothing but the goose responded. He looked at it, unsure what he should do. He did not have much time to consider this though as the goose proceeded to waddle out of the room hurriedly. Mic attempted to follow but had forgotten that blankets were made of physical matter. Said matter was tangled around his back legs. Luckily, Mic managed to stop his chin from impacting the floorboards by flapping his wings. After frantically untangling himself, Mic made his way down the hallway and into the living space. To his relief, the goose was laid out peacefully on the couch of pizza boxes. The goose stared at him blankly. HONK! "Okaaay... uhm... I guess you're good for now. Uhh..." Mic looked around to find a solution but as he turned his head back to the couch, he noticed the goose was no longer present. In a panic he looked around before the flapping of wings got his attention. Turning he looked up at one of the shelves. It held some of his special edition games. The goose began pecking it's beak at the cases before pulling one out and dropping it. HONK! With a yelp of fear, Mic dove and caught the game case. He breathed a sigh of relief though it was short lived as he heard more cases get rustled. As game after game fell down, Mic caught each and everyone. Eventually the goose seemed to be satisfied with it's work and flew off to a different part of the house. Mic, who was carrying games with every extremity he had available, set the games carefully back where they needed to go before he followed after the goose. He found it pulling a pot across the floor. With a grunt of annoyance he reached down and proceeded to pick it up. Unfortunately, the goose did not seem to agree with this decision. It pulled back and Mic soon found himself in a tug of war with the surprisingly strong avian. "Mmnhhnn! HmmHmnn!" Mic grunted through his teeth. He gave one final yank only to feel no resistance as he fell head over hooves onto his back. Scrambling to get back up, Mic looked down at the goose in frustration before putting the pot on the stove. "Alright, pal. I tried being nice but now I'm fed up." He pointed to the door of the apartment. The goose looked at the door, then back at the pegasus. Mic sighed, "Get out." More staring, "Ugh, stupid bird." HONK! The goose then bolted around Mic and towards the door. Mic sighed in relief until he realized the goose could not very well open the door. "How in the hay do you even get inside if you can't open the door?" With annoyed and confused look he goes over and attempts to unlock the door. After fiddling with the knob for a bit Mic finally gets the door open. "Oh! Button. Sweetie. Hey." Before stood the two ponies who looked surprised at first that the door had opened automatically before realizing it was mere coincidence. "Hey, Mic, what's..." Button paused and pointed behind the pegasus, "Uhh... the hay happened here?" Turning around, Mic's jaw dropped as he noticed the goose was gone and in its wake had left absolute chaos. Pots, books, and other items were scattered around the apartment. Mic could formulate no words as he he looked around the mess. He turned back to Button who only smirked. "I swear this is the last time I leave the nerd on his own." > Chapter 7: Button Masher Pt1 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Button jumped behind cover as bullets' rendered his teammate into nothing but shreds. Soon after, more metal pellets began to riddle the sandbag he had gotten behind. Pulling out a small device from his pack, he tossed it into the window of a nearby building. Pressing a button on his chest, he disappeared with pink flash, reappearing inside a bedroom above the device he'd thrown. "Tartarus! I didn't even see them!" Button pulled out a pistol with his cybernetic griffon claw, a recent addition to his build, "Hey bro, don't worry about it. You were a great distraction." "Oh screw you." Button chuckled in response as he glanced over at his open bedroom door. Both his and Mic's bedroom doors were open as they played the game. It took a while but Button had managed to convince the Pegasus to buy one of the many games he played. The current one was an immersive First Pony Shooter game set in an advanced dystopian Equestria. "Why am I not respawning?" Mic paused for a moment, "That's the word right?" Button rolled his eyes but was still smiling as he checked out the window. The sound of a bullets whizzed over his head, "You respawn near a teammate that isn't in the middle of combat. Just gimme a minute." "Counting." Button checked his left hoof where a small screen with dots on it showed there were at least two other beings coming towards the building. He needed to get out of the building somehow without them noticing and his Relocator was out of charges. "Why are you still there? Isn't somebody gonna kill you." Button rolled his eyes, "I leave I get shot idiot." "Just fly out the- oh... right no wings. Sorry." "Wings wouldn't be so bad right no..." Button stopped and looked into his inventory. He had the necessary items. If he was fast enough he could build a way out. Button Mashed the buttons on keyboard as quickly as he could, expertly placing different materials in the appropriate crafting slots until eventually he grinned, "Welp, sky's the limit." "...seriously?" "I'm never serious." Equipping the newly built item, two little devices appeared on his back. Soon after they were put on, they flashed and a pair of translucent rows of feathers appeared on his back. They were made of magic and while they wouldn't last as long as robotic ones, these at least would be faster. Just as the door to the room burst open, Button flew back out the window he'd come through with incredible speed. By the time the enemy knew what had happened, Button had already gotten plenty out of the dodge. "Whoo! That's what I'm talkin' about! Ya see why I like this game, Mic?" "Okay fine, I admit that was pretty cool." Button came to a landing outside the village and looked to see Mic's avatar reappear next to him. As cliche as it was the two of them had avatar's that looked pretty much like replicas of themselves, although for Button this was only one of his builds. He usually played a Zebra in this game but that was another story. For Mic's first time playing, he thought it'd make more sense to be something that the feathered horse would recognize. "Yer dang right it was cool. How many seconds did it take me to make that? That's gotta be a world record." "In your dreams. Besides, I'll need royalties since I'm the one who put that idea in your head." Button rolled his eyes, "Suuuuure. Anyways, you wanna try another raid?" Mic thought for a while, he was enjoying himself. While he'd been against it at first, the game had actually been a lot more fun than he had given it credit for. Admittedly, he mostly did not want to take up too much space on his computer since he used it for his music endeavors, but had conceded when Button had presented the possibility of something called Gamer Mares. Mic will never admit to that though. "You know what? Sure. And THIS time I'm not gonna die twenty seconds in." "GAH!" "Hey, twenty-two seconds. You're improving."